The effect of plant size and developmental stage on summer survival of some perennial grasses

1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (31) ◽  
pp. 190 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Hoen

Observations on summer survival in sown swards of a number of cultivars of Phalaris tuberosa L., P. coerulescens L., Dactylis glomerata L., and Hordeum bulbosum L. were made at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, in two consecutive years with widely different rainfall patterns. In both years survival was higher among reproductive plants than among vegetative plants, and in both types of plants the largest individuals had the highest survival rates. In the abnormally dry year 1965 only a number of cultivars of cocksfoot had adequate survival rates. Some agronomic practices aimed at maximum survival over the first summer are discussed.


1964 ◽  
Vol 4 (13) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
EF Biddiscombe

Seven perennial grasses were evaluated for animal production and for persistence, when stocked heavily in summer or winter with young Merino wethers. The commercial strain of Phalaris tuberosa L., which is sown commonly in south-eastern Australia and is often low yielding during summer and winter, was taken as the standard. At first, the productivity of Bromus inernis Leyss. in summer and Dactylis glomerata L. (Brignoles strain) in winter was reflected in higher liveweight and wool yields for these seasons. This advantage over Phalaris was lost when the Bromus pasture weakened in the third summer and the Dactylis in the third winter. The latter sward revived by natural regeneration from seed, whereas P. tuberosa developed and maintained a dense sward of the original plants. On this evidence Bromus and Dactylis are possible replacements for Phalaris for specific seasonal purposes, but management to retain vigorous swards still needs study. These aspects are discussed.



1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 683 ◽  
Author(s):  
KY Chan ◽  
DP Heenan

The effects of lupin, field pea, barley, canola, linseed and lentil crops on the surface (0-0.10 m) aggregation of a red earth at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, were investigated in the field under identical cultivation and agronomic practices. Soil friability after cropping was in the order lupin > lentil > canola > field pea = linseed > barley. Both lupin and canola cropping produced significantly stronger aggregates (measured as tensile strength of the aggregates) than barley, lentil and field pea. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in water-stable macro-aggregation after growing the different crops. However, there was a significant (P<0.05) correlation between the tensile strength of the aggregates and amount of dispersed clay released from moist soil (-10 kPa), possibly indicating different abilities of crops to modify soil bondings affecting aggregate strength.



1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 832 ◽  
Author(s):  
BD Hill

Nine experiments were conducted on six different sites in the medium-rainfall (about 700 mm per year) area of central New South Wales to measure the persistence of 15 perennial grasses. Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica and P. aquatica x P. arundinacea) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) cultivars were the most persistent, while perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) cultivars, Demeter fescue (Festuca arundznacea) and perennial veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina) were only short-lived. The cultivars of phalaris were generally similar to each other in persistence, although in some trials Sirocco and Siro 1146 were more persistent and Seedmaster was less persistent than Australian. Berber was the most persistent cocksfoot cultivar, followed by Currie, then Brignoles. Medea was the most persistent perennial ryegrass cultivar, followed by Kangaroo Valley, then Victorian.



2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith L. Mitchell ◽  
T. B. Koen ◽  
W. H. Johnston ◽  
D. B. Waterhouse

This paper reports the results of an initial evaluation of a large collection of Australian perennial native grasses. The overall aim of the research was to identify accessions that may be useful for pastoral purposes and for controlling land degradation on hill-lands in the high (>500 mm) rainfall zone of south-eastern Australia. Accessions (807) representing 37 target species were established in spaced plant nurseries at Rutherglen and Wagga Wagga. Dactylis glomerata L. cv. Porto and Eragrostis curvula (Schrad) Nees. Complex cv. Consol were established as comparator (control) species. A range of attributes was observed over a 2-year period (19900—1992), including persistence, vigour, productivity, palatability, morphology, and characteristics related to seed production. Accessions were initially culled on the basis of their persistence. Data for a range of attributes were separately analysed using pattern analysis to provide a broad overview of the performance and characteristics of the remaining accessions. A number of selection criteria were applied which resulted in selection of a promising group of 20 accessions (12 species from 8 genera). The promising group of accessions will be evaluated further at field sites typical of hilly landscapes in the 500mp;mdash;600 mm rainfall zone of south-eastern Australia.





1965 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 981 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Lax ◽  
Turner H Newton

The influence of sex, strain, location, and age of ewe on survival rate to weaning of single-born Merino lambs has been examined in two sets of data: the strain trial, involving five strains run without selection at each of three locations (Cunnamulla, Qld.; Armidale, on the northern tablelands of New South Wales; Deniliquin, in the Riverina area of New South Wales), with six age groups of ewes; and the same five strains later included in selection groups at Armidale with seven age groups of ewes. The strain trial at Armidale ran mainly on native, and the selection groups mainly on improved pastures. Female lambs had a higher survival rate than either castrated or entire males, the differences in lambs weaned per lamb born being 0.03 and 0.04 respectively. No strain differences could be regarded as statistically significant, and neither could the strain x location interaction in the strain trial. Mean survival rates for the strains ranged from 0.673 to 0.786 on the Armidale native and from 0.802 to 0.850 on the Armidale improved pasture, from 0.746 to 0.859 at Cunnamulla, and from 0.838 to 0.894 at Deniliquin. The strains did not rank consistently in the same order. Location had a marked effect on survival rate, the means being 0.744 for the native and 0.824 for the improved pasture at Armidale, 0.810 at Cunnamulla, and 0.868 at Deniliquin. Age of ewe had a marked influence in the poorest environment (Armidale native pasture), survival rate rising with age and later falling sharply. The effect was less marked in the intermediate environments (Armidale improved pasture and Cunnamulla) and negligible at Deniliquin. The patterns at Cunnamulla and Deniliquin are confirmed by data from other experiments on these stations. Survival rate is one component of number of lambs weaned. The other component, number of lambs born, has a higher mean value at Deniliquin than Cunnamulla, but shows a strong association with age of ewe in both environments. Number of lambs born responds rapidly to selection, but no information is yet available concerning the likely response in survival rate. If improvement in environment can raise the survival rate, particularly in the youngest and oldest ewes, then selection for number of lambs born, combined with improved environment, should lead to a marked rise in the number of lambs weaned.



1962 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
RR Storrier

In a red-brown earth soil from Wagga Wagga the fluctuations in the level of mineral nitrogen (ammonia plus nitrate-nitrogen) and its availability to wheat under growing period rainfalls of 6 inches and 16 inches were studied. Ammonia-nitrogen did not exceed 8 lb nitrogen per acre 6 inches but showed statistically significant short term fluctuations. Mineral nitrogen decreased steadily from the 4-5 leaf stage of plant growth, reaching minimum values in the ear-emergence period when a temporary nitrogen deficiency occurred. Following rainfalls of about one inch or more, conditions favoured biological activity and nitrogen was mineralized, absorbed by the crop and/or leached down the profile. In one season a release of mineral nitrogen about two weeks before flowering contributed an estimated 20-30 per cent of the total nitrogen uptake of the crop. Nitrogen uptake by the wheat crop ceased after flowering and subsequent changes in mineral nitrogen level reflect the net result of mineralization and demineralization processes, and nitrogen uptake by weeds, particularly skeleton weed. Absorption of nitrogen from the profile depended upon seasonal conditions, with the surface 18 inches suppling the greater part of the nitrogen absorbed by the crop. This indicates the need to sample regularly to at least a depth of 18 inches, particularly during the period from 4-5 leaf to flowering, when studying the relation between mineral nitrogen and crop growth. The data suggest that the response of wheat, as measured by grain yield and protein content, to the higher levels of mineral nitrogen in the improved soils of southern New South Wales is determined by soil moisture levels, particularly in the post-flowering period.



1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (77) ◽  
pp. 795 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Thompson

A range of temperate annual and perennial legumes, naturalized or commonly sown in the area, was examined at three field sites in low fertility soils derived from granite on the south western slopes of the New England Region, New South Wales. They were compared over a four year period in terms of their persistence, dry matter and nitrogen production and their compatibility with associated temperate perennial grasses, The response of sown grass to nitrogen fertilizer application was also examined in the absence of legume. Ten legumes were examined at one site and six of these at the other two sites. In general, nitrogen yields were ranked similarly to total dry matter yields of all treatments, including grasses in the absence of legume. However, the legumes were ranked differently in terms of productivity of the legume component and productivity of associated grass. At all sites lucerne gave the highest yields of total dry matter and of legume and the lowest yield and persistence of associated grass-comparable to grass growing in the absence of legume or applied nitrogen. Subterranean clover was ranked second or third in total dry matter yield, depending on site, but provided the highest yield of associated grasscomparable to grass receiving high levels of applied nitrogen. Under this legume soil nitrogen levels tended to be highest. Rose clover, sown at one site only, yielded more legume dry matter than subterranean clover but grass yield was comparable to that with lucerne. The results suggest that subterranean clover is the superior legume for successful mixed sowings although inclusion of white clover could be justified. Lucerne appears to be best sown as a pure sward.



1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (32) ◽  
pp. 332 ◽  
Author(s):  
PW Michael

Experiments carried out from 1959 to 1967 Rear Goulburn in the southern tablelands of New South Wales were designed to test the relative effectiveness of the perennial grasses, Bromtls inermis C.P.I.7073, Dactylis glomerata CV. Brignoles, Festuca arumdinacea CV. Demeter, Lolium perenne CV. Victorian, and Phalaris tuberosa CV. Australian in seasonal control of the biennial thistle Onopordum. The grasses were sown in autumn and in spring. Amitrole (0.5 lb active ingredient an acre) was used to suppress the thistles in the first season. Harvests of the autumn- and spring-sown plots in December 1959 showed large decreases in yield of thistles and increases in yield of grass due to spraying, but in two or three years these effects had disappeared. Dactylis glomerata and Lolium perenne were the most productive grasses at the December 1959 harvest, but the former gave better thistle control. Harvests of the autumn-sown plots in October 1963 showed that Dactylis glomerata and Festuca arundinacea gave the best control of thistles, while in 1966 Dactylis glomerata had almost disappeared and was no longer effective. In 1966, Festuca arumdinacea and Phalaris tuberosa were the only grasses giving effective thistle control. Harvests of the autumn-sown plots in October 1960 showed an increase in yield of the sown grasses but not of the thistles to 30 and 60 lb nitrogen applied in August 1960 before active spring growth of thistles began. Despite a stronger growth of thistles in the first season, the spring-sown grasses showed essentially the same pattern of thistle control as the autumn-sown grasses throughout the remainder of the trial period. Root distribution studies in 1961 showed that Dactylis glomerata had a much higher proportion of its roots in the top six inches than either Festuca arundinacea or Phalaris tuberosa. The greater surface rooting habit of Dactylis glomerata was considered to be important in determining its early success in thistle control, its exclusion of Trifolium subterraneum and its apparent susceptibility to a drought experienced in 1964-65. On the other hand, the deeper rooting habit of Festuca arundinacea and Phalaris tuberosa was taken to explain their persistence and long-term success in thistle control.



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